Photo Credits: XBLUSH. Starship Entertainment
Rising from “Debut’s Plan” to cover stars
IDID’s XBlush Magazine February 2026 cover lands less than six months after their official debut, a speed-run milestone that signals how fast this Starship boy group is climbing. Formed through the survival show Debut’s Plan, IDID turned trainee uncertainty into a statement of intent: “I did it” as both a name and a mission.
The group debuted on September 15, 2025 with the EP I Did It., planting their flag in 5th‑gen K‑pop with a blend of “luxurious hip‑hop and vibrant, youthful exuberance” they frame as #ClassicHip. Their lead single “Chan-Ran (제멋대로 찬란하게)” introduced them as boys who embrace imperfect brilliance over safe perfection, a theme that feeds directly into the new “Grow Freely” pictorial.
“From ‘Debut’s Plan’ to magazine cover in one rookie year – that’s IDID’s I did it.”
“Grow Freely”: the concept behind the XBlush cover
XBlush’s special edition with IDID runs under the theme “Grow Freely,” dropping February 14 at 5:20 PM, just in time to catch Valentine’s timelines and Lunar New Year traffic. The issue positions the group not as polished end products, but as youth in motion: self‑exploration, trial‑and‑error, and the promise of long‑term growth.
Teaser copy from the collaboration highlights “self‑exploration and free growth,” hinting at visuals that refuse a single fixed image of what IDID “should” be. Instead, the boys are captured in “fresh, vivid moments,” where each scene feels like a random gift drop meant specifically for the fan who pulls it—a clever echo of K‑pop’s photocard culture.
“Every frame is a checkpoint in IDID’s growth, not a full stop.”
Visual direction: classic, hip, and a little unbothered
IDID’s musical identity is built around #ClassicHip, fusing polished hip‑hop sensibilities with bright, youthful energy. The XBlush shoot leans into that duality: you can expect tailored silhouettes and clean lines, balanced with styling details that keep them approachable—relaxed fits, playful accessories, and natural expressions.
Rather than hyper‑glam dramatics, the “Grow Freely” visuals focus on breathable colors and textures that feel like a mood board for their rookie year: soft light, movement, and subtle imperfections left in on purpose. The boys come across as “handsome and adorable,” not distant; the key is relatability, making fans feel like they’re watching friends level up in real time rather than idols posing on an unreachable pedestal.
“They’re styled like future headliners, but shot like boys you could bump into after school.”
Milestones: from survival show to year‑end stages
IDID’s rise to this cover is packed with checkpoints that fans can trace. They were introduced to the public in early 2025 through Debut’s Plan, where 33 Starship trainees competed for a spot in the agency’s first boy group since CRAVITY. The final lineup was unveiled on a live finale that even added an unexpected extra member, building a narrative of surprise victories right from the start.
After the show, IDID immediately began performing as a team, appearing on M Countdown on May 15, 2025 with the original song “Blooming Crown,” and continuing across music shows like Music Bank and Show! Music Core. By the time they officially debuted with I Did It. on September 15, 2025—following a pre‑release single “Step It Up” in July—they had already built a live performance base that many rookies only reach months later.
Discography checkpoints that shaped this shoot
XBlush’s concept feels like a visual remix of IDID’s releases so far. Their debut EP I Did It. set the tone with “Chan-Ran,” an energetic, carefree anthem that celebrates living brilliantly “on your own terms.” The song’s messaging—owning your messy glow instead of chasing perfection—aligns perfectly with “Grow Freely’s” emphasis on undefined, ongoing growth.
In November 2025, IDID dropped their first digital single “Push Back,” showing a sharper edge and more assertive choreography while still staying rooted in youthfulness. Their year‑end appearances, including SBS Gayo Daejeon and MBC Gayo Daejejeon, featured both “Push Back” and “Chan-Ran,” plus a cover of TVXQ’s “Rising Sun” that hinted at their ambition to stand in the lineage of K‑pop legends. That combination—new school attitude, old school respect—feeds into XBlush’s framing of them as “unlimited growth” idols.
“From ‘Chan-Ran’ to ‘Push Back,’ IDID turns every release into a growth checkpoint.”
What this XBlush cover means for IDID and their fandom
Landing a dedicated special edition magazine cover within their rookie phase positions IDID as one of Starship’s priority projects in the 5th‑gen field. For fans, it’s more than just a photoshoot—it’s a physical receipt of how fast they’ve grown from survival show hopefuls to full‑on editorial leads.
The “Grow Freely” tagline invites the fandom into that process: you’re not just collecting static images, you’re documenting a moving timeline. As K‑pop leans harder into storytelling, this issue reads like Chapter One of IDID’s mythos: self‑exploration, undefined potential, and the promise that every era will look and feel different as they keep saying “I did it” at each new stage.